At the Patriots’ 1-yard line with 26 seconds remaining and one timeout left, Seattle quarterback Russell Wilson opted to throw instead of handing off the ball to Lynch. The pass, intended for Ricardo Lockette, was picked off by New England rookie Malcolm Butler, sealing the Patriots’ victory.

After the game, Lynch told Jim Trotter that he wasn’t surprised he didn’t get the ball on the final play “because we play football. It’s a team sport.” But in an interview with Turkish sports network NTV Spor, he admitted he was among the millions who expected a different outcome:

“To be honest with you, I would be lying if I didn’t tell you that I was expecting the ball. Yes, I was expecting the ball. But in life, these things happen. Like I told a reporter after the game, it’s a team sport.

“I had no problem with the decision of the playcalling. I mean, you know … I think it was more of a … how do I say this? When you look at me, and you let me run that ball in … I am the face of the nation. You know, MVP of the Super Bowl … that’s pretty much the face of the nation at that point of time. I don’t know what went into that call. I mean, maybe it was a good thing that I didn’t get the ball. I mean, you know, it cost us the Super Bowl. I mean, I have full … I have full confidence in my teammates to execute that plan because we’ve done it so many more times. But would I love to had the ball in? Yes, I would have.

The Broncos did not renew the contract of Jerry Butler, who had been their director of player development since 2011. Butler is taking the same role with the Chicago Bears, where he will join John Fox’s staff.

Butler’s role with the Broncos was to help players with life off the field, assisting them with counseling, financial guidance and education. Butler, 57, played seven seasons as a receiver for the Buffalo Bills from 1979-86. His best seasons were his first three, when he averaged 53.3 catches, 836 yards and six touchdowns.

The only natural follow-up to a day of llama chasing is one in which we marvel over NFL players photoshopped as comic book super heroes. (Because I refuse to touch on that that blue-and-black dress that is really white-and-gold.)

The fine folks at NFL memes have put their photoshop genius to work, turning 16 NFL stars into larger-than-life characters.

Forget Jameis Winston and Marcus Mariota. The guy to watch at the 2015 NFL combine was Byron Jones, a cornerback out of the University of Connecticut.

Jones leaped 12 feet, 3 inches in the broad jump, an NFL combine record by an astounding eight inches. It is also believed to be a world record; Arne Tvervaag of Norway is said to have jumped 3.71 meters (12 feet, 2 inches) in 1968.

But Jones didn’t stop there. He came within a half-inch of tying the combine record in the vertical jump, with 44.5 inches. (Chris Conley of Georgia jumped 45 inches, tying the record set by Ohio State’s Donald Washington in 2009.)

Offensive tackle Ty Sambrailo was five Colorado State players invited to the 2015 NFL Combine. (Andy Cross, The Denver Post

Five Colorado State players were invited to the 2015 NFL Combine in Indianapolis, where they were put through four days of drills in front of pro coaches. Quarterback Garrett Grayson did not participate because he injured his hamstring, according to USA Today Sports. Here are the final results of the four who did participate.

Aaron Davis, OLB

Garrett Grayson, QB

Dee Hart, RB

Jared Roberts, K

Tyler Sambrailo, OT

40-yd. dash

4.95 sec.

—

4.80 sec.

—

5.36 sec.

Bench press

16 reps

—

—

23 reps

Vertical jump

29.0 in.

—

33.0 in.

29.0 in.

Broad jump

107.0 in.

—

113.0 in.

—

97.0 in.

3-cone drill

7.38 sec.

—

7.20 sec.

—

7.54 sec. (5)

20-yd. shuttle

4.37 sec.

—

4.38 sec.

—

4.58 sec.

60-yd. shuttle

12.01 sec.

—

—

—

—

GRADE

5.18

5.37

5.02

4.77

5.55

(#) Positional ranking

The combine’s grading system explained:

No grade: Likely needs time in developmental league.4.50-4.74: Chance to be in an NFL training camp4.75-4.99: Should be in an NFL training camp5.00: 50-50 Chance to make NFL roster5.01-5.19: Better-than-average chance to make NFL roster5.20-5.49: NFL backup or special teams potential5.50-5.99: Chance to become NFL starter6.00-6.49: Should become instant starter6.50-6.99: Chance to become Pro Bowl-caliber player7.00-7.49: Pro Bowl-caliber player

Broncos general manager John Elway admits the NFL combine is a much bigger deal than when he entered the draft. He didn’t attend a regional combine, but was darn close. (John Leyba, Denver Post file)

INDIANAPOLIS — Nothing creates buzz at the NFL combine like quarterbacks. Their workouts become the sporting equivalent of the Westminster Kennel Club dog show. Every movement is scrutinized. Every wrinkle examined, every mood analyzed.

They may be the top two quarterback prospects this year, but this? This was not even close.

Mariota posted an unofficial time of 4.52 in the 40-yard dash at the NFL Combine in Indianapolis, while Winston’s fastest time was 4.97 seconds. For comparison, Ali Marpet, a 6-foot-4, 307-pound offensive lineman out of Hopart, recorded an official time of 4.98 40.

INDIANAPOLIS — There is no way to know until at least after free agency which position the Broncos will select with their No. 28 overall pick in the NFL Draft on April 30.

If the Broncos sign, say, Houston Texans right tackle Derek Newton, then the team is less likely to use their first-round draft pick on a tackle.

What is known is the Broncos do have right tackle and tight end high on their list of offseason priorities. At the NFL scouting combine here this week, the Broncos did formally visit with offensive tackle Ty Sambrailo of Colorado State, Utah’s Jeremiah Poutasi and LSU’s La’el Collins.

They also met with University of Minnesota tight end Maxx Williams, who is projected for the first or second round, and Oklahoma’s Blake Bell, who is a later-round projection.

The Broncos also visited with several running backs on Friday. New coach Gary Kubiak, remember, got his coaching chops from the Mike Shanahan/Ted Sunquist/Bobby Turner school of drafting a running back in the mid- to late rounds.

INDIANAPOLIS — With the Broncos willing to let the open market set the value for free agent Terrance Knighton, there exists a chance he won’t be back. Knighton has earned a big payday, perhaps as much as $7 million per season. If the Broncos deem that beyond their price point to make other pieces of the puzzle fit, the onus falls on Sylvester Williams to take on a bigger role.

Williams, a first-round draft choice in 2013, showed improvement last season, ranking 32nd against the run by Pro Football Focus among defensive tackles. However, he finished with a positive overall grade in only five games. Which leads me to John Elway’s answer about Williams’ role next season. He believes Williams can play better, and thinks new defensive line coach Bill Kollar will help him reach this goal.

Terrance Knighton will enter free agency March 10 if not resigned by the Broncos. (Joe Amon, The Denver Post)

INDIANAPOLIS — Terrance Knighton knows he is not the Broncos’ top offseason priority. But five weeks removed from the team’s playoff exit, the defensive tackle continues to fight impatience. The sides are expected to begin talks this week, and Knighton will be “disappointed” if the discussions lack substance.

“I have no idea what they will discuss, if anything. If the talks aren’t numbers right now, I’d be very disappointed because I have made it very clear where I want to be,” Knighton told The Denver Post on Thursday.

Knighton said last month that he would be willing to take less money to stay in Denver, where he is a fan favorite and a team leader. He is looking for a “fair offer” to prevent him from testing the open market in March. Knighton served as a team captain last season, and graded out as one of the league’s top run stuffers by Pro Football Focus. Teammates want Knighton back, believing he’s one of the keys to the defense realizing its potential.

Broncos coach Gary Kubiak said Wednesday he was impressed with the young stable of running backs he inherited. What Kubiak doesn’t have is a fullback. He wants one, but the Broncos haven’t had a true fullback since Chris Gronkowski in 2012 – and he had zero carries and just one reception that year.

Before Gronkowski, the Broncos’ fullback was Spencer Larsen, who also played some middle linebacker.

“That’s a topic,” Kubiak said. “I’ve had one on my team all the time. It’s something we’ve discussed, we’re going to have to find. Or we’ll have to build through our football team. I’ve done that with backs, I’ve done that with smaller tight ends. That’s why we’re here (at the NFL scouting combine), hopefully we can sniff a couple out here. But, yeah, that’s a challenge for us right now, we’d like to have one on our team.”

INDIANAPOLIS — Colorado State lineman Tyler Sambrailo offers unique athleticism to the tackle position. He won the USSA title for his age group division years ago in the slalom, giant slalom and super G. He hasn’t skied much lately. You know, he’s kind of busy getting on with the rest of his life as a potential early-round NFL draft choice.

Sambrailo, who is being eyed by the Green Bay Packers among others, finished his career strong with the Rams. He earned first-team all-Mountain West honors this past season as Colorado State won 10 games for coach Jim McElwain.

“He changed our mentality from being about ‘me’ to being about ‘us’,” Sambrailo said Wednesday at the NFL combine.

Sambrailo, once a 200-pound freshman high school quarterback, said he hasn’t let his mind wander about the Broncos potentially drafting him. As he said in the video above, he looks forward to playing tackle and believes his feet make him unique. So do his skis.

As such, some mocks project the Broncos to take an offensive lineman with the 28th pick in the first round. Their line could feature as many as three new starters. Though Michael Schofield, last year’s third-rounder, is expected to receive a chance to compete for the right tackle spot, Denver enters the combine with eyes wide open.

This one was ordered by Nate Kreckman, afternoon host on ESPN radio (105.5 FM). A wiseacre by nature, Kreckman has been insisting in recent Klis’ Korner segments that I find out what a kicker does during the NFL scouting combine.

“I’ve gotten that question a lot, actually,” Colorado State’s Jared Roberts, one of just five field goal kickers invited to the combine, said here Wednesday. “Are you going to be bench pressing or running the 40? Not really. Our most important day is (Thursday).”

Each kicker will get nine kickoffs and 15 field goals — three each from the 30, 35, 40, 45 and 50. They will alternate hash marks until the 50 yarder, which will be placed dead center.

“Real confident,” Roberts said. “That’s the only reason I’m out here is to prove myself in that skills drill.”

He is one of five CSU Rams invited to the combine. He had dinner Tuesday night with quarterback Garrett Grayson and offensive tackle Ty Sambrailo. Running back Dee Hart was to arrive Wednesday and linebacker Aaron Davis was scheduled to get in Thursday.

Denver Broncos defensive tackle Terrance Knighton celebrates a stop during the second half of an NFL game against the Indianapolis Colts on Sunday, Sept. 7, 2014, in Denver. (Jack Dempsey, The Associated Press)

INDIANAPOLIS — The Raiders own cap space, need leaders and want a stout presence in the trenches.

So it would surprise no one if Oakland pursues defensive tackle Terrance Knighton in free agency. If Knighton reaches the open market. Knighton loves Denver, the fans and has said he’d been willing to take less money to stay. But like any player in a league where careers pass in a blink, he has to be economically wise as well.

There will be bidders for Knighton. Oakland is a possibility because of coach Jack Del Rio’s familiarity with Pot Roast, who has developed into a fan favorite for the Broncos.

“Obviously, we drafted him (in Jacksonville). We thought at that time he was a dancing bear type. A big powerful man who could stay on his feet. This game is about big powerful men so that guys that have the skill level can do their things,” Del Rio said. “This big powerful man played well in Jacksonville. We got back together and he played well in Denver. I appreciate that. I respect that. We have to have those kind of people in our trenches on the offensive and defensive line in order to play the kind of football we expect to play.”

When the Super Bowl ended two weeks ago, the Broncos had the fourth-best odds to win the Super Bowl in 2016 at 8-to-1.

The uncertainty of Peyton Manning, the possible reduction in receiving talent and a lack of gambler confidence has dropped the Broncos below the Indianapolis Colts and into a fifth-place tie with the Dallas Cowboys at 12-to-1, according to the Las Vegas Westgate Super Book.

“The early going, the Broncos aren’t getting much support from anyone as far as the money coming in,” said Jay Kornegay, Westgate’s vice president of race and sports operations. “Even if Manning does come back, at this stage in his career he has to be 100 percent healthy or very close to that to be effective. His health, his weapons that surround him and lack of public support are the three main ingredients for the Broncos (odds) slowly creeping up there.”

“Saturday Night Live” turns 40 on Sunday, and Peyton Manning will be on hand to celebrate.

The Broncos’ quarterback is part of an all-star cast — more than 150 celebrities and athletes! — for the three-hour special, turning (briefly) the focus away from his decision about playing in 2015 to his acting skills.

But this is hardly his first go-round at Studio 8H at Rockefeller Center. It’s just his first as a Bronco.

He was then the special teams coordinator for the Wade Phillips-coached Dallas Cowboys, who were about to play the Minnesota Vikings in a 2010 second-round NFC playoff game. Phillips was recently hired as the Broncos’ defensive coordinator; DeCamillis as their special teams coordinator.

Before he left for Florida after just three seasons at Colorado State, Jim McElwain was making a strong case as the best college coach in Colorado since the heyday of Bill McCartney, Sonny Lubick and Fisher DeBerry.

Wednesday was National Signing Day, and Colorado schools landed a bevy of prospects (full list here).

But nine years ago, Demaryius Thomas, the Broncos’ star wide receiver about to enter free agency, was in their position. The West Laurens High product was ranked No. 58 among receivers in 2006, according to Rivals.com, and chose Georgia Tech over Duke, Georgia, South Carolina and other schools.

Check out some of these clips from his high school days (he’s No. 4 in purple and white) in Dublin, Ga.:

Mike Klis has been with The Denver Post since 1998, after working 13 years with the Colorado Springs Gazette Telegraph. Major League Baseball was Klis' initial passion. He started covering the Colorado Rockies after Coors Field was approved for construction in August 1990.

Nicki Jhabvala is the Sports Digital News Editor for The Denver Post. Before arriving in Denver, she spent five years at Sports Illustrated working primarily as its online NBA editor, and she was most recently the overnight home page editor at the New York Times. She has reported regularly on the Broncos since joining the staff.

A published author and award-winning journalist, Benjamin Hochman is a sports columnist for The Denver Post. He previously worked on the staff of the New Orleans Times-Picayune, winners of two Pulitzer Prizes for their Hurricane Katrina coverage.